Results 11,881-11,900 of 14,706 for speaker:Phil Hogan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation (24 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: Initially, €10 million is being made available to my Department. Additional funding will be provided over the next two years, in the context of the further capital stimulus programme to be announced in early 2014, to deal with all dwellings deemed by the Pyrite Resolution Board to be in need of remediation. The Pyrite Resolution Board (PRB), which I established earlier this year...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Research and Development Funding (24 Oct 2013)

Phil Hogan: The information requested in the question is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: Hear, hear.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Work Placement Programme (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: I have allocated €2.835m, from the Dormant Accounts Fund in 2013, to cover once off costs such as health and safety training, personal protective clothing, necessary equipment and materials that will be incurred by local authorities providing placements in the Department of Social Protection's Gateway local authority employment initiative. The scheme will provide short-term quality...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Exemptions (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 640 and 641 together. The Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013 came into effect on 1 July 2013, replacing the system whereby vehicles were declared off the road retrospectively when next being taxed with a procedure under which vehicles must now be declared off the road in advance. The Act provided for a three month transition period from 1 July 2013 to 30...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Development Companies Funding (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The West Cork Area Partnership is contracted to carry out projects on behalf of my Department in relation to the LEADER and Local and Community Development Programmes. In regard to LEADER, during 2011, the European Commission approved a change in the maximum co-funding rate from 55% to 85% for the LEADER elements of Ireland's Rural Development Programme 2007 – 2013. This had the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Electromagnetic Fields Studies (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The issue of the potential health effects of electromagnetic fields was the subject of an Expert Group Report commissioned by the Government and published in March 2007. This Report, entitled Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields, is available for download on my Department's website, The Expert Group reported that the majority scientific opinion was that no adverse short - or long -...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Development Companies Administration (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: There were 51 Local Development Companies (LDCs) contracted, on my Department's behalf, to deliver the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP), with 36 of these also delivering the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP) throughout the country. One of these companies, Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (MFG), the group contracted by my Department to deliver...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: Since 2008, in response to the financial crisis, local authorities have reduced staff numbers by a quarter or 9,129 whole time equivalents. The public service moratorium was introduced in 2009 and my Department operates a delegated sanction, from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, for implementation of the moratorium in relation to local authorities. All exceptions to the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 648 and 686 together. The Arigna, Boyle/Ardcarne, Roscommon Central and South Roscommon Regional Water Supply Schemes are included as Water Treatment Plant Upgrade contracts to start and a Network Contract at Construction in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2010 – 2013. Approval was given to Roscommon County Council's Contract...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The landfill levy is chargeable on waste presented for disposal at landfill facilities. It is intended, primarily, to act as an economic instrument to encourage more sustainable management of our waste by diverting it away from landfill, as our reliance on landfill as the primary waste treatment method is unsustainable. While there have been a number of increases to the levy in recent...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Regulatory Impact Assessment Data (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: Since March 2011, my Department has published Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) relating to the following: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011 Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2011 Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 Waste Management (Household Food Waste Collection) Regulations 2011 European Union (Stage II Petrol Vapour Recovery During Refuelling of Motor Vehicles at Service...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Administration (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services Act 2013 provided for the establishment of Irish Water and enabled the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) to advise on the regulation of water services. Further legislation, currently in preparation, will provide Irish Water with responsibility for the provision of water services. It is intended that the legislation will also require Irish Water to have regard to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Installation (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Water Services Act 2013 provides for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group and assigns the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the domestic metering programme. The installation programme commenced in August 2013 and will be implemented nationally as quickly as possible. When fully geared up, at least...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Pyrite Remediation Programme Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Pyrite Resolution Board is responsible for the implementation of the pyrite remediation scheme. On receipt of a valid on-line application accompanied by a Building Condition Assessment with a damage rating of 2, the Board will arrange for the appropriate testing to be carried out at no cost to the homeowner. The cost of the Building Condition Assessment will be recouped to the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Finances (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: Audited local authority financial data for 2012 are not yet available. The audit of the 2012 local authority Annual Financial Statements is scheduled for completion by end March 2014. The 2011 Annual Financial Statements are available on my Department’s website at At the 31 December 2011, 41 local authorities recorded a cumulative revenue account deficit amounting to some €74...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: My Department supports the Community and Voluntary Sector in its contribution to an active, democratic and pluralist society. A key aim of my Department’s activities is enabling communities themselves to identify and address social and economic needs and problems in their own areas. There is a particular focus on supporting communities that are vulnerable, disadvantaged or under...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Seniors Alert Scheme Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The Seniors Alert Scheme aims to encourage community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The Scheme is administered by local community and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Ministerial Appointments (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: The appointment of ministerial staff was undertaken in accordance with the Instructions on Ministerial Appointments for the 31st Dáil and the Guidelines on Staffing of Ministerial Offices of March 2011. The information requested in relation to Special Advisers I have appointed is set out in the following table. Name Position Qualifications Salary Claire Langton Special...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Charges Application (5 Nov 2013)

Phil Hogan: Local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes, in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. As with all local charges, the invoicing and...